Namibia at a glance can be an intimidating country and yet very beautiful. It is a paradox in time and culture and its people are resourceful and resilient.

Namibia “Snapshot”

Roughly the size of California

92% percent of land classified as “hyper-arid, arid or semi-arid”

Population 2.3 million

Capital: Windhoek, pop. 342,000

Stable, self-governing democracy

Unemployment > 40%

Namibia’s People

9 major ethnic groups

96% black or mixed race

28 languages/dialects

High literacy rate

> 50% of population below poverty line

6% of population = 75% of wealth

Northern Green Belt

Not all of Namibia is arid or semi-arid. In the far north along the border with Angola and across the Caprivi region, the climate is more tropical. Although it covers a relatively small percentage of Namibia’s land, this is the most densely populated area of the country. It is home to the Ovambo people, Namibia’s largest ethnic group.

The Namib Desert

Believed to be the world’s oldest desert, the Namib is a sea of sand stretching the length of Namibia’s west coast. The Topnaar people have inhabited the Kuiseb River valley here for thousands of years.